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The rise of Pascal 'Spicy P' Siakam, the NBA All-Star

by Lindsay Dunn

Posted Feb 14, 2020 11:04 am EDT

He has one of the most remarkable rises in the NBA and now ‘Spicy P’ has his own hot sauce.

“I never imagined I would’ve had my own sauce,” Pascal Siakam said with bewilderment. “I think it’s been something a long time coming with my nickname and all and fans are excited but I definitely never thought this would happen.”

Getting his own sauces in partnership with Nando’s — with part of the proceeds going to Right To Play — is just one of the many surprises in the Raptors forwards’ relatively young career.

It’s been less than ten years since Siakam first picked up a basketball, and as Raptors fans know his Scoville level has been rising ever since.

Just under four-years-ago the Raptors picked a relatively unknown Siakam 27th in the NBA Draft. He became part of the bench mob that won fans over the next year and then in 2019 he was an instrumental part in the Raptors winning their first NBA Championship.

Then it got habanero hot — he signed a four-year, $129.9-million extension with the Raptors, and now he is playing in his first All-Star game this weekend in Chicago…. as a starter.

“I’m excited. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to be in the All-Star Game and to do it alongside Kyle (Lowry) and the whole coaching staff, it’s going to be an amazing time and I can’t wait to be there and enjoy the time with my family.”

Siakam is taking part in the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Competition, a challenge that only two other Raptors have taken part in before — Kyle Lowry in 2015 and DeMar DeRozan in 2014 — but came up short.

“I think I’m set!” Siakam said with a laugh when asked if he has been practicing. “I mean they call me P-Skills for a reason so I think I’m ready!”

But will P-Skills/Spicy P be bringing a crate of his new hot sauce for LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who fought over having the 25-year-old on their All-Star team, a sample?

“That’s a good idea!” Siakam said grinning ear-to-ear. ” I didn’t even think of it but now I might have to do that.”

Siakam will be competing in the Skills Competition against the defending champ Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, 2015 Skills Competition champion Patrick Beverley of the LA Clippers, Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat , Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis. Chicago native Derrick Rose was also supposed to compete but is out with an injury and will be replaced by Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

You can watch Pascal Siakam compete in the challenge on Saturday at 8 p.m. on Sportsnet.